Wellbeing

Morning Fitness Program (Time Zero)

You may have noticed your child heading off before school this week to take part in some morning exercise.

Starting this week, students can participate in a range of optional physical activities from 8:30am to 8:50am. While we recognise that this may not appeal to every student, we remain committed to providing regular opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day, including PE lessons, play breaks, and other active learning experiences.

This initiative is inspired by research conducted in schools in the United States, where students participated in "Zero Hour" programs before the start of the school day. These programs encouraged students to begin their day with cardiovascular exercise and reported positive outcomes in both student wellbeing and academic performance.

Research suggests that increasing heart rate through exercise before learning can enhance concentration, focus, and readiness to learn. Physical activity stimulates the release of important brain chemicals, including dopamine and norepinephrine, which support attention, memory, and cognitive performance.

Students can choose from a variety of non-competitive activities designed to elevate heart rates in a fun and engaging way. These include Health Hustle, skipping, and running. The program will run as a trial from Monday to Thursday and is entirely voluntary. Students who choose not to participate can continue with their normal morning routine and head directly to class.

We know that many students benefit from being active before the school day begins. One of our Year 5/6 students recently shared that he can focus better in class when he rides his bike to school, highlighting the positive impact that physical activity can have on learning.

We look forward to seeing the benefits of this initiative and exploring ways to build on its success in the future. If you would like further information, please contact your child's teacher.

(https://www.know-stress-zone.com/the-brain-during-exercise.html)

Tim Kriewaldt

Deputy Principal